Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display peripheral interface input device – Touch panel
Reexamination Certificate
1999-05-24
2001-12-25
Liang, Regina (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display peripheral interface input device
Touch panel
C345S166000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06333735
ABSTRACT:
DESCRIPTION
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to pointer positioning devices and, more particularly, to an improved pointing device based on infrared light sources and detectors that is compact, rugged and ergonomically easy to use such as can be used in laptop computers and similar devices.
2. Background Description
The conventional mouse is a very useful device for moving the pointer on the computer displays and also for user input. However, for portable computers, it is desirable to provide a small compact input device which can provide the full functionality of the conventional mouse. Ergonomic convenience to the user is a paramount concern. Several types of pointer devices are currently available on different laptops and other portable computers. See S. Zhai, B. A. Smith, and T. Selker, “Improving Browsing Performance: A Study of Four Input Devices for Scrolling and Pointing Tasks,”
in Proceedings of INTERACT
'97
: The
6
th IFIP Conference on Human
-
Computer Interaction
, pp. 286-292, 1997; K. Kawachiya and H. Ishikawa, “NaviPoint: An Input Device for Mobile Information Browsing,”
Proceedings of Computer
-
Human Interaction CHI
.98, 18-23 Apr. 1998, Los Angeles, pp. 1-8; and Microsoft Corp. Microsoft IntelliMouse Home Page at http://www.microsoft.com/products/hardware/mouse/intellimouse/default.htm.
A simple substitute for the conventional mouse found in earlier laptop computers is a miniature tracker ball which is based on electromechanical principles. Lower reliability, difficulty in holding a constant position and wear and tear during usage are the major drawbacks of this device. Another pointer device which is currently provided in IBM and other laptop computers is the TrackPoint® analog input device situated amidst keys on the keyboard. (TrackPoint is a registered trademark of IBM Corp.) See Rutledge, J. D. and Selker, “T Force-to-Motion Functions for Pointing,” in
Proceedings of INTERACT
'90
: The IFIP Conference on Human
-
Computer Interaction
, pp. 701-705, 1990. This device is based on sensing the forces applied by the user's finger in the x and y directions. While this device is quite satisfactory in terms of pointing function, its use requires dexterity on the part of the user. For this reason, some users prefer laptops with other types of pointing devices. Another limitation of this device is that it does not support double-clicking function available with touch-pad type of pointing devices. The touch-pad pointing device is robust and easy to use. The touch-pad pointing device is currently available in many modern laptop computers. Here, the user moves his or her finger on rectangular area of the touch pad to move the pointer Although the touch-pad devices typically have one, two and sometimes three “mouse” buttons which allow single and double clicking, single-clicking and double-clicking effects can also be achieved by single and double hitter on the touch pad. Wear and tear of the touch pad and sensitivity to touch by different users or condition of the user's finger are some drawbacks of this device,
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a new type of pointer device which is more robust and superior to some of the existing pointer devices. The present invention is based on infrared (IR) light sources and detectors. It is similar to the existing touch-pad-type of pointing device available on some laptop computers. Instead of relying on surface sensors to detect finger movement on the touch surface, it measures the relative movement by sensing the shadow of the finger or finger operated object in the movement area.
This new pointing device is superior to existing devices because it is independent of touch sensitivity and is more robust. This new pointing device is superior in terms of wear and tear on the touch surface and insensitivity to user's finger condition. Existing touch-pad devices are based on true touch. The touch surface has a sensor beneath it, and is subject to wear. However, in the present invention, the surface on which the finger is moved has no sensors. It just provides a flat surface for supporting the finger or finger operated object during its motion.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the pointing device comprises an x-direction IR source controller and a y-direction IR source controller and a plurality of x-direction collimated IR light sources and a plurality of y-direction collimated IR light sources. The x and y-direction IR source controllers respectively alternately and sequentially activate the IR light sources in each direction. A plurality of x-direction IR light detectors and a plurality of y-direction IR light detectors receive collimated IR light from corresponding ones of the x-direction and y-direction IR light sources. The IR light sources and detectors are placed alternately along opposite peripheries of a movement area. The movement area of two-dimensions is scanned by the IR light sources such that objects placed in the movement area create shadows detected by said IR light detectors. An x-direction signal processing circuit and a y-direction signal processing circuit respectively receive signals from said x-direction and y-direction IR light detectors producing detector outputs in the x-y directions to be sent to a pointer control circuit controlling a pointer in a screen display area. This invention differs from an earlier IR light based touch pad device disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,707,160 in the alternate placement of IR sources and detectors ro improve resolution of object detection uniformly across the movement area.
According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, to increase the resolution of scanning and to avoid non-uniform beam widths, the scanning of the touchpad area is carried out by using low power IR laser beams produced by a single IR laser source each for x and y directions and a plurality of optical fibers to transmit the laser beams in the x and y directions. The laser beams are sensed through a plurality of optical fibers which direct the light to x and y direction IR laser detectors. As with the earlier scheme, here also the detection of objects placed in the movement area is carried out by analyzing the shadows in the x and y directions.
According to yet another embodiment of the invention, a mouse device with an opaque plunger which can be depressed with a finger is used as an object to create a well defined shadow in the x and y directions. This prevents exposure of a user's finger to the laser beams, and simplifies object detection process and makes it ergonomically more convenient.
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International Business Machines - Corporation
Kaufman Stephen C.
Liang Regina
McGuireWoods LLP
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